Friday, September 02, 2011

McKenna Wins National Award for R-71 Brief

Washington State Attorney General, Rob McKenna, won a national award for his work in forcing the release of names who signed the R-71 petitions to the homosexual activist groups who are demanding them---who have said publicly they want to have a "conversation" with those who signed.

Although names were sealed to the public in the past in relation to "Hands Off Washington," a homosexual activist organization that feared gay activist members would be harassed, Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna have worked tirelessly at great public expense to release the names of those pro-marriage citizens who signed the R-71 petitions.

As you know, we have objected, the case has been heard several times and is still pending. The names remain sealed at this time with another trial scheduled later this month.

The national award was given by the National Lawyers Association for "Best Brief" this past year. We only recently became aware of the award.

McKenna said he was proud of his team and "Hart, Collins and Egeler are truly the state's dream team of appellate attorneys."

Larry Stickney, myself and others who have been deposed by the "team" on subjects varying from theological beliefs and personal beliefs about Islam, to the use of benign words on our web site, etc. and a wide range of subjects unrelated, in our opinion, to the R-71 case, have a very different view of the matter. The word "dream" does not come to mind.

On behalf of the 138,000 citizens who signed the R-71 petitions, exercising their right to participate in the election process not knowing they would be "contacted" by homosexual activists for a "conversation," we congratulate the Attorney General for his outstanding work in creating a chill on the initiative process. Particularly within the faith community regarding marriage.

Signing a petition is fundamentally the same as voting to place the initiative on the ballot. The principle of a secret ballot is a long established principle in the US. People must be allowed to express their opinions and vote on matters of great public importance without fear of reprisal.

Knowing what gay activists did the the LDS people in California is reason enough to keep those names secret.

The only legitimate use of those petitions is to verify that there are enough valid signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot. Any other use must be strictly prohibited.

Signing an inniative can also be seen as a donation somewhat , your contribution is helping a cause for legislation . But in this case I can also see the threat and the attempt to intimidate . I would not condemn McKenna for doing his job .

Have always thought it quite revealing that a lobby that uses "safe" in so much of their literature and organizational commitments are so quiet on this . We all need to feel safe , even those we disagree with. If you can bully one side and stay quiet , its the same as having your side being bullied and staying quiet . It works that way in the long run . People now feel threatened . This is unfortunate .

Anonymous, the country's supreme court has already ruled on this - signing a petition is a legislative process and this country really doesn't need legislators that want to do that in secret.

The names, address, and often the employer and occupation of all who donated on both sides of this issue have been in an online searchable database just days after they made their donations - nothing happened.

So the situation is that nothing has happened, there is no indication anything will happen to mere petition signers especially in light of the they lost even when misrepresenting the issue as defending marriage. There was no risk then and certainly isn't any now.

People just need to gird their loins and realize that when they become politically involved in public issues the public does have every right to know. Again, they idea that they didn't was amusing to even the conservative members of the supreme court.